The race for the women’s title at the UCI MTB Marathon World Championships has been thrown wide open with the confirmation that current world champ Gunn-Rita Dahle will not be on the startline to defend her title. Dahle has taken the bold move to forgo the defence of her marathon title to focus on her cross country riding ahead of those world championships in her home country later this year.
Dahle Flesja – triumphant in victory.
The reigning marathon world champion rode to an impressive second place at the cross country World Cup held in ‘Africa’s Bike City’ in April and following the confirmation of her absence at the upcoming marathon worlds it means that the rainbow jersey is back up for grabs. The Multivan Merida Biking Team star had made up her mind in February that she was not going to take part in the Marathon World Championships this year and with her home country hosting the cross country world championships later in the year that has been her primary focus throughout the year.
It has been a good season so far for the 41 year-old who has claimed a number of favourable results throughout the season with a second at Albstadt and a third at Nové Mesto but she missed out on the second leg of the World Cup in Australia. Dahle would have been competing for her sixth World Marathon title, but one of the most decorated riders in women’s mountain biking history will not be on the start line on the 29 June which has left the women’s race wide open.
The women’s podium at the 2013 XCM Worlds
With the withdrawal of the defending champion it is a question of who can step up into the shoes of the Norwegian veteran and there are a number of names that come to mind when discussing a potential winner.
The second placed finisher at the World Championships in 2013, Sally Bigham must be a contender for the title and she believes that she is on track to claim her maiden title to go with her British Marathon champs title that she currently holds.
Sally Bigham (right) and Ester Suss (left) under pressure to catch Team RECM 2 during stage 4 of the ABSA Cape Epic. Photo by Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The final place on the 2013 podium was occupied by Ester Süss who is another rider that has confirmed that she will be taking part in the marathon spectacle that will be starting at the same place that the World Cup started at earlier this year.
Having two of the top three riders in the world lining up on the start line will make for some interesting riding along the 74km route that the women will be slugging it out on.
Ariane Kleinhans and Annika Langvad on their way to win stage 3 of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held from Arabella Wines in Robertson to The Oaks Estate in Greyton, South Africa on the 26 March 2014
Photo by Greg Beadle/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The fourth spot at the World Champs last year was occupied by Annika Langvad of Denmark and she has also been pitted as one of the favourites to take home the 2014 crown. Ariane Kleinhans is current Swiss XCM Champ but a South African local, used to the conditions and style of courses. She is also a strong favourite and has brilliant form this year.
The UCI MTB Marathon World Championships takes place at the Cascades MTB Park in Pietermaritzburg on 29 June 2014.